This week Ben Walters celebrates his 150th
senior game with the Broadbeach Football Club which is second only to Korey
Fulton in State League games played. Known to his mates as Ben and to his
teammates as “Stalk”, he has been
a Broadie player 1994 to 2010 inclusive : a total of 17 years. While many
assume that “Stalk” is descriptive of his physical stature, his mum Maree
confides that it is a diminutive of “Stalker”, a nickname that stuck ever since
he started, and wouldn’t stop, following neighborhood girls around.
Nonetheless, at 1900mm and 76 kg, Stalk does
resemble a beanstalk, can hide behind goal posts and catapult himself into the
stratosphere. Appropriately nominated as a utility player, Stalk has made a lot
of coaches look good by plugging the gaps at the selection table and during
games. In any position down the spine, or in the ruck, he provides excitement
for the supporters and incites confidence for the coaching staff. His leap from
a standing start is prodigious and off the long run often results in
spectacular acrobatics. Get hold of the 2009 season video summary and look for
Aspley at home for a big catch that typifies his efforts at the sherrin in the
air.
Not shabby across the deck either, Stalk can work up
some pace and fill a running player role, or such is his ability, can direct
play from within stoppages and finish off with clean disposal. Courageous on
the field and demure off it, Stalk is a sensitive new age type of bloke who
fancies a Pimms and lemonade and quiet relaxing evenings strumming his guitar –
any off field injury has been entirely accidental. A plasterer by trade and a
deferred uni student by circumstance, Stalk’s ambition is to assist KLF to
accumulate its second million before establishing himself as a muso and maybe,
a primary school teacher before settling on a maiden of his choice.
Ben has played under 6 Senior Coaches in John
Northey, Daniel Dodd, Craig O’Brien, Denis Knight, Shaun Hart and Adrian Smith
to reach his 150 State League Senior Games. He bags them all,
convinced that but for them he may have been picked up in the draft in his
younger days or more recently as a mature aged recruit.
Stalk’s quality longevity is something akin to a
good red maturing. He was runner-up Senior Best and Fairest in 2007, sixth in
2008 and 5th in 2009; he tasted finals footy in 2001-4-5-6 and was
selected in the Broadbeach State League team of the Decade in 2006; he
represented Queensland in the National Country Championships in 2008 and has
been held in regard from his early to contemporary days, as captain of the
under 18s in 1999 and vice captain of the seniors in 2009.
He was awarded Playing Life Membership in 2009.
Congratulations to Ben for an outstanding footy
career to date and if Bulldog can continue to bear witness and chaperone successfully we may yet see number 33
wowing ‘em at the Cattery for a few years to come. Fantastic Stalker.
Last Modified on 16/06/2010 13:30